The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-05-12

The 2lst annual Encamprnent Of this Department
wa held at Black : Opera House Springfield. April
~, p aud ~. The decorations In the building
were very beautiful. The entire rear fiat of the
stage WIS covered with what the decorators call a
radiator" 10 consists Of an immense wheel. COM
posed Of the National colors mingled with gilt and
bordered with small flags The effect by EnsiEht
II indeed striking. Over the center OF the stage WAS
beautiful banner bearing the words. Welcome to
Tie GAR, ON either side Of which were repre-
sensations 81 the insignia " the Order. Back Of
tbs and fastened 10 the sky border portrait Of
Gen Logan. ON The left Of the stage ia front was a
Inquire representing an artlllcryman in the act OF
loading a field piece, and vet in front Of this Is a
portrait 81 Garfield aud life size figure Of drum
ner on the right hand side Of the stage was figure
Of "a soldier taking leave Of his wife for the war.
and ~ front OF tins piece was portrait Of Lincoln
and the iigure OF bugcr. corresponding In size 10
the drummer on the left. The Sccrctary's and
Presidents desk was handsomely draped in flags.
and m front Of the stand excellent likeness Of
Gen. Grant. ON either side of the stage between
the proscefaum and the balcony hung immense
hanners uuun which was inscribed the names Of the
various battles Of the American rebellion. The front
OF the balcony was profusey decorated with the
National flag tnstctully grouped and fcstooned and
fastened with shields, upon which appeared IN gilt
letters the names Of Stanton. Mcdowell, Nc
Clellan, sheridan, sherman, Mcpherson. Garfield,
Hooker, Burnside Scott and others The posts
Window stairways doors chandeliers. and, In
TACT, every available inch Of space within the build
ing was literally covered with flags, flowers and
evergreens.
Among those present were Gen. Y. 6 Kountz
Past Commanders Chief, Toledo: Gen. &. H.
Grosvenor. Of Athens; Gen. Kirby, Youngstown;
Ten. L. III. Hurst, CmiNcothc; Gen. Rntlln, Fast
Department Commander r. Il. Brown, Zanesyillei
Judge Austin. Toledo; Past Department Com
mander ID. w. Thomas, Akron; Past Department
Commander G. r. Clark, Columbus; Past Depart
ment Commander III. r. Lloyd, Cincinnati; Capt
David Ianulng, Columbus; Capt J. III. seymour,
BATAVIA; Gen. III. A. AAline Adlutant-h General,
State o.N.G.; Capt Ed Wilson, editor OF the Regis
ter lronton.
Commander A. L. Conrer and the following
IL. Il.
TagGnrt, Akron Assist Adit-Gen. G. r. York,
Akron; @. NJ Gen. A. y. Baldwin, Akron; lnspec-
tor David p Hunt, Gilmore; Judge Advocate Judge
n ID. Tibbals, Akron; Chief Aidde-C Camp Capt. >.
ID. McGlicuddy, Columbus.
A resolution was adopted complimenting the
Noman's Relief Corps OF the State for their earnest
and grand work. A Committee consisting Of Past
Department Commanders II. b. Brown, Evansville;
ID. W. Thomas Akron, aud J. II. Seymour, Hudson,
was appointed 10 wait upon the ladies in Nonven-
uon assembled and inform them that the Eneamp-
men was in session. and extend to them an earnest
invitation to visit the Encampment at such time as
would be designated, 20 present 10 the Encamp-
ment such reports as they had TO communicate
Past Commander in Chief Gen. J. :. kountZ. of
Toledo introduced Department Commander Col.
A. l.. ConEcr who, when he took the stand, was
greeted with enthusiastic applause. The Com
mander then read his report which, during the
reading, was greeted with hearty applause, espe-
cally The portions relating TO the Relief Corps, De-
paTtmcnt gains, relief, etc In his report Col Con-
ger said: The work Of recruiting has been pushed
steadily forward, with the following showing: Sec
ond quarter. ending June 30 1856, $40 Posts, with
1909 members. Third quarter, ending Sept so,
1856 Cos Posts, with 81 ISL members. Fourth quar-
ter, ending Dec. 81 1856. 67 Posts, with "a 7OS mem
beers. First quarter, ending March 1857 629 Posts
with 36 cog members. The total net gain to March
81, 1857, was A.2s9. Eight new Posts have been or
canzed since the close of the quarter ending March
81, with membership Of zoo The total number
of Posts in good standing to-day Is G37, and with
the average monthly gain 10 date would give
memh crship of 36,68a-a total gain during the year
of 4.Ss4. Over 30 Campfires and meetings have
been held during the year throughout the Depart
meHt, IN which the Department officers and mem
bers of the staff have taken part besides the many
district meetings aud Campfres that have been
attended 10y officers Ia charge Of their several dis
trcts During the visit OF the distinguished Com
mander-in Chief Gen. Fairchild, Camptires were
held at Cincinnati, Columbus, Sieubenville,
Youngstown, Toledo and Cleveland. earnestly
recommend Campfres az one Of the best methods
OF carrying forward the work OF swelling the ranks
aud completing the task Of enrolling all of the ex
soldiers and sailors In the ranks of the Grand Army.
The time is not far distant when the organization
of the Grand Army of the Republic will be num-
bered among things Of the past. The lessons Of
pa fiutlsm and loyalty That il will have taught 10
the generation that A. TO follow must be committed
20 the sacred keeping Of the Sons Of Veterans and
] earnestly recommend 10 the comrades Of the
Grand Army that they give 10 this organization
their wise and careful consideration. We should
extend 10 them Ia their youth our aid and assist
ance. They viii reciprooate this kindness in oHr
declining years. The Ohio Division Is under the
command Of Col. Henry Frazee, Of Cleveland, TO
whose intelligence and energy Is due the rapid
growth of the Order during the last year.
The Council Of Administration, at its meeting in
May last set aside the sum of $500 special relief
fund TO be placed AT the disposal Of the Department
Commander, and TO be used la cases Of special inn
portance where immediate relief was required. or
this sum sl3O has been expended In sums OF from
SIS to SIS. Many applications for assistance have
been received 10y the Department Commander from
worthy sources and deserving comrades, but gen.
orally the amount required was 30 large "a 10 place
II beyond the power of the GAR TO afford the
relief desire 10 cali attention of the comrades to
the fact that the Gettysburg Memorial Commission
hs4AFa
rails To be erected on the battlefield of Gettysburg
IN accordance with an act of the General Assembly
passed April n 1887 and have fixed the day for
dedicating said memorials Sept. H. 1857 when il is
hoped that such rates can be obtained (notwith-
standing the Interstate Commerce law will
enable the eX-soldiers Of this State TO participate in
the ceremonies in such numbers as will indicate
the pride Of the Buckeye Department ia the record
made by our gallant comrades who were con-
spiouous in that, the greatest, battle Of the
During the administration Of our distinguished
comrade, Past Department Commander r. b.
Brown, he found upon investigation that nearly
400 OF our old comrades were suffering and dying
In the poorhouses Of the several Counties of our
State. He recognized the propriely of building a
home for these worthy and suffering comrades, and
at brought the project To the attention Of the
comrades Of the Department. who united with him
Ia bringing the matter before the Legislature,
which resulted In the passage Of the Soldiers
Home bill, making an appropriation OF $4,000 for
this purpose. This amount was found to he wholly
inadequate, and at the last session Of the Icgsla-
ture an additional sl0O,OO was appropriated for
4
Of the further Legislation the subject, and the
location of the Home at Sandusky where il IL now
about TO be built. The letting will take place May
B. and ID n hoped that at least six cottages aud the
domestic building Will be ready for occupation by
Dec. ID. II n proper that as Department Com
mRnder. should state that at several points in our
Department, womcn's aid societies have been or
gained, acting Ia conjunction with the Posts, in
which the loyal ladies are engaged In dispensing
the charities and rendering assistance TO comrades
upon all occasions. They deserving the highest
commentator for their patriotic lahoTs Thirteen
Posts in the Department had RENTED SlSs SO on
call from the Department toward relieving the
Charleston earthquake suffers, and more would
have been sent had not orders come that sufficient
aid had been reoeivedto bridge the al cultes -
Col. Conger paid glowing and handsome tribute
10 the w re. auxiliary, stating that their work was
! progressing handsomely aud that they were fully
carrying out the charitable and noble purposes for
/ which they were organized. After the reading a
/ laundering and prolonged applause, Past Com
mandcT *. Is. Brown Chairman Of the committee
appointed 10 wait upon the ladies of the Relief
Corps reported that the committee had performed
! it, work and he had the extreme pleasure To an.
nounce that he had been heartily received by the
ladies aud the Department President had instruce ed
| him TO extend their earnest congratulations upon
| the good and efficient work done by the q A r.
| Tor the past year and assure the comrades Of the
Grand Army that they had the sympathy aud care O
the 6.O0O loyal ladies Of the W.I&C. Comrade Brown
| remarked that lac knew that every old soldier
! present would he glad TO learn that he was loved
] by COCO women. Great applause and laughter.
l The report of u. IT, Taggart, Assistant Adiutant
/ General, covered many points included aud pub
/ lahed above In the Commauder's report IL showed
that since the close Of the first quarter cndinl
March 81, there has been eight new Posts organized
with membership Of 100; this with the aVerag,
monthly gain would place the total number il
good standing. 20 date C57 Posts and a membership
Of 30. COD a total gain during the wear of Ss4 TIN